Lightwieght combat commander

[tankerman]

Price check on a pre series 70 LW combat commander. Also interested in the pros and cons of this early model. The 9mm version of course.

[kantstudien]

No such thing as a LW Combat Commander. It is either a Commander, which is a aluminum alloy frame, or else it is a Combat Commander, which is a steel frame.

[tankerman]

No such thing as a LW Combat Commander. It is either a Commander, which is a aluminum alloy frame, or else it is a Combat Commander, which is a steel frame.

It's a lightweight commander excuse me. Aluminum frame

[kantstudien]

It's worthless, just give me the name of the fella selling it and I will tell him off for you.

[tankerman]

Are they really hunks of junk? Or are you being sarcastic? I really don't know anything about the aluminum framed Colts.

[stevie]

Hes being sarcastic, many on the board (including me) would love to add one to the collection. Not sure of the price.

[Schlamoo]

LW Commanders are perfectly fine guns. Average sales price lately seems to be somewhere from $750 - $850 for a gun in average shape. If your looking at a pre '70 series take a look inside the frame for any cracks especially around the slide stop pin. This area can be prone to cracks and is found more in aluminum frame guns opposed to steel. If you have found one in 9mm get it. I had one and let it go in a trade with another forum member here. They are nimble, fun guns to shoot and usually 9mm guns do not get stress cracks the .45 or .38 Super get due to lower recoil and overall pressures. You can probably get a newer Kimber or Springfield lightweight gun for the same price, but there is just something about Commander guns with the little horsey on them that makes them cool........

[jdberger]

I thought that the 9mm had higher pressures than the .45 and .38 Super. No? In fact (now you are going to make me look this up) that the frame for the 9mm had to be beefed up to handle the higher pressures and recoil impulses.

Then again, I've had a lot of champagne tonight. Hate the french all you want, they make bubbly wine like no other..........

[Schlamoo]

No, I don't think you had too much bubbly..... I had a poor choice of words. When I said pressure, I was refering to the force of the slide battering the slide stop pin. Recoil on a 9mm is less than .38 Super or .45 ACP thus less prone to cause damage to the frame. With that said, I have 4 LW Commanders in .45 and HAD a 9mm LW Commander and have never had any problems with cracking. I also have 4 aluminum frame Kimbers also with no problems. The original question was, if I recall, what pro's and con's are associated with this gun. In an attempt to answer the question my apologies if I just added more confusion. Perhaps I just need to go back and drink more Bud and shut up.........

Bud, my kind of bubbly.........

[tankerman]

Thanks for info.

[jerryg1776]

Had a .45 ACP LW Combat Commander back in the late 80's. Picked it up for a whopping 250.00 from a family friend. He bought it new, put 21 rounds through it, cleaned it, lubed it and stored it forever until it came up in conversation. He still had the other half of the original box of 45 ball that he shot.

I bought it.. later on it was stolen... I am still pissed.

I would love to pick one up again, that was nice piece. Good luck on your search.. post pics when you get one.

[Coastey]

A Series 70 9mm LW Commander should be a great shooter. There are more modern designs...more compact and lighter...and maybe more accurate, but the Colt should hold its value better and collectors will jump on them.

[tankerman]

A Series 70 9mm LW Commander should be a great shooter. There are more modern designs...more compact and lighter...and maybe more accurate, but the Colt should hold its value better and collectors will jump on them.

It is PRE series 70, 1963 manufacture date.

[ivanimal]

I have a commander in 45 I paid 625 for it two years ago. Handy and reliable. I have had it full apart and inspected it shows wear but no cracks. Lots of rounds went through this baby. Thousands.

[jdberger]

I love my Commanders, too. The one I bought recently from a nice fellow in Alaska and the Satin Nickle one that was stolen. <DRAT>

I really hate thieves.